Lewis says he suspects the dolls are part of a prank, but he’s concerned that someone might get hurt trying to “help” one of the childlike dolls at the side of the road.

A doll is shown hanging from a post in Festus, Mo., in this photo uploaded Aug. 13, 2019.

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“In this town, people are good-hearted,” Lewis said. “People are going to stop and check to make sure that’s not a child … They’re going to either get hit, or there’s a chance they get out of the car and get run over. Then you’re dealing with a catastrophe.”

No one has been injured as a result of the dolls. However, they’ve piqued the interest of many Festus residents, who have shared photos of the phenomenon on Facebook.

Multiple residents have reported seeing the same dolls in different places.

“It is creepy,” local resident Angela Ravellette told KTVI. “I’m not sure what’s up with them.”